St George's College Ground, Buenos Aires (Belize won toss): Bermuda (2pts) beat Belize (0) by 71 runs

Dion Stovell has called for a shift in mentality as the spin bowlers delivered yet another impressive performance, taking eight wickets to bail out Bermuda on their way to a fifth straight win at the ICC T20 World Cup Americas Sub-Regional Qualifier in Argentina.

Openers Terryn Fray and Tre Manders both scored 34, but Bermuda later collapsed to post 123 for nine in 20 overs.

Magnificent bowling by Kevon Fubler (three for 12), player of the match Stovell (career-best three for 17), and Derrick Brangman (two for seven) dismissed Belize for 52 in 14.2 overs, as Bermuda tightened their grip on the tournament.

The victory leaves Bermuda as the only unbeaten side in the nine-team event, with Cayman Islands thrashing Bahamas by ten wickets.

However, Stovell, who exploited a spin-friendly track to record his best international figures, expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s approach.

“I think our approach for the game was too laid back,” Stovell told The Royal Gazette. “Going forward, our mentality has to change in terms of the opposition we play and how we approach certain things.

“At the end of the day, we might get through this tournament, but the next one will be tougher. We need to look at the little things that will improve not just Bermuda cricket, but us as a national team.

“We now have to consider how we approach matches against Bahamas and Cayman Islands. They’re probably two of the tougher teams left, and our mentality over the next two days has to change.

“As a senior player, I think the vibe in the team is good. It’s just our mentality and the culture of Bermuda cricket that need to improve, especially when facing better opposition.”

Fray and Manders provided a solid start with a 65-run opening stand, capitalising on wayward bowling during the powerplay.

Manders was the first to go in the ninth over when he picked out Maurice Castillo at deep cover off Nathan Banner’s bowling.

Alex Dore followed for 17 in the fourteenth over, the left-hander trapped in front by Garrett Banner Jr. Fray fell cheaply in the next over, as the Bermuda captain strayed off his crease to be run out.

From that moment, Bermuda crumbled in the middle. Dominic Sabir, pushed up to No 5, looked to clear the boundary off a Brandon Lewis delivery, but the ball went into the hands of Garrett Banner Jr.

Onias Bascome did not trouble the scorers as he departed for a five-ball duck and from a comfortable position, Bermuda were suddenly 110 for five in the sixteenth over.

Brangman, Jonté Smith and Jarryd Richardson made a beeline for the exit. Stovell took two boundaries off the last over bowled by Lawrence Bonner, but he too departed before the end.

Chare Smith made early inroads for Bermuda with his first wicket in international cricket when he bowled Nathan Banner. There was also success for Jonté Smith as he bowled Ordell Casasola.

Before that, Brangman had Castillo bowled in the fourth over for the first of his two wickets.

Stovell picked up the first of his three when he enticed Stephenson into a big shot and Sabir made no mistake in the deep. The writing was on the wall for Belize as Stovell picked up two in an over, thanks to some brilliant fielding by Sabir and Chare Smith.

The left-arm spin pair of Fubler and Brangman mopped up the rest of the Belize tail in a space of three overs.

Bermuda will now enjoy a two-day break from action, before they come up against Bahamas and Cayman Islands to conclude their campaign.

In the wake of the batting collapse against Belize, Fray has put emphasis on avoiding any slip-ups in the remaining matches.

“Getting the formula right, especially our batting against Bahamas and Cayman Islands will be key,” the captain said.

“We just need more awareness in the critical stages of the game and making better decisions will be very important.”